Chapter 81

Shannon's P.O.V."Baby come on, how am I going to ask your father's blessing for our marriage if I don't get to talk to him." I sighed slumping down on one of our kitchen stool as she goes over to the fridge. "and besides he's expecting you to be there."

"Shan—" She sighs "Can we not talk about this right now. I'm tired from the flight, I just want to go to bed and take a fucking rest."She slams the glass on the kitchen island making me jump before pouring herself a glass of cold water and drinks all the contents of it. Well, now's not a good timing but the party is tomorrow night, less than 24 hours. So don't blame me if I opened the subject right now, the thought is just killing me already. "on second thought, my answer is still no."

"But—" She puts up a hand and leaves the room. Not really a good time. I sighed and took out my phone from my pocket and texted Trent about it

Looks like we're having a stay in tomorrow.

He replies instantly.

I told you she won't come.

Well, she did slam a glass right in front of me.

Yep, that's telling you to drop the subject and not ask ever again HAHA

Right, got it. So just say hi to the others for me then

I will. Don't worry if the party sucks and Robbie would be there, I'm taking the others and we'll crash to your house after and finally have some martinis instead.

I like the sound of that.

I chucked my phone into my pocket and decided to do something. Something to clear my head off it since she made it clear that there is no way we are going to her Dad's birthday party tomorrow, maybe I could figure out something else later on. I could unpack her single suitcase she had with her earlier but then I hate unpacking because I suck at it and I would definitely have an earful if she sees the mess I've done so maybe that's not a good idea.

Well, I could water the plants and maybe cook something for dinner since I went to the shops yesterday after she called me up saying she's coming home for the rest of the week so we could go back to Texas on Friday together.

To be honest, I have mixed emotions of going back to work considering what happened last time and I think Elizabeth's been stressing about it too but if I don't go back to work then it will leave a huge disappointment to everyone most especially Lesli and that would be the end of my fucking career. Anyway, maybe it will be different this time, I just have to deal with it.

I went outside to water the plants even though clouds are starting to form into one huge dark gray pillow in the sky. It will definitely pour out later on, so with one crippled leg and a single crutch, I managed to safe keep our potted plants in the green house so they would not get destroyed if the rain will turn out pretty bad before I made my way back inside as thunder starts rolling now.

Its quite chilly now that fall had started and rain is becoming a frequent weather nowadays so a nice cup of pumpkin spice latte is a must for this kind of weather and maybe some pumpkin pie for when Elizabeth wakes up figuring out she must've fallen asleep already.

So I went back to the kitchen and tried my very best to make a pumpkin pie straight from a recipe I found in the internet. Being alone in our house for days can be so boring so I had to keep myself busy and one way is by spending all my time in the kitchen cooking and baking shit I would eat at the end of the day. Some turned out to be so good but some of them turned out so bad that I had to throw it away and just order Chinese or something which I have to get by the parking lot since our house is well hidden behind the huge hedges. Most delivery guys give me looks wondering why the hell am I ordering food from a parking lot and I would just stare and say thank you and watch them leave before going back to the house.

Time passes and as expected rain starts pouring out and its quite a storm out there but I'll bet it'll be over in a few hours. The oven rings the same time I glanced at the clock, its already seven in the evening. Elizabeth needs to wake up and eat, perfect timing for the pumpkin pie to be ready, I just hope it tastes good.

After letting the pie cool for a while I head upstairs to our room just to find Elizabeth sprawled out on the bed sleeping so peacefully while hugging my pillow close to her chest. The sight makes me smile and let out a soft chuckle at how adorable she looks and I can't help but join her in bed as well replacing the pillow with my body instead. It was a bit of a challenge though since my knee is still on support but with the amount of time I've been with it, it wasn't that hard than the first weeks I've had it.

As soon as I was settled in Elizabeth cuddles even closer burying her face on the crook of my neck and sighs then started sniffing.

"Hmm you smell so good." She mutters half asleep. Well, I just made pumpkin pie so I definitely smell good. I let out a soft giggle and place a kiss on top of her head. "What time is it?"

"Seven, I made pumpkin pie." She giggles softly and tightens her hold on me pulling me closer.

"Yea honey, I'm sure you did." She whispers like I'm joking or something.

"Yes I did, its downstairs waiting for you." She pulls back this time stared at me with sleepy eyes trying to figure out if I'm really serious or not.

"What?"

"You made me a pumpkin pie."

"Yup, do you not like pumpkin pies?"

"Are you being serious?" I gave her an unimpressed look and nod my head. Am I that actually bad at cooking? She squints her eyes before getting out of bed and leaving the room in a blink of an eye. I let out a chuckle at how surprised she was with my new skill unlocked, though I haven't tasted the pumpkin pie myself. I got out of the bed as well and headed downstairs into the kitchen where I found her sitting on one of our kitchen stool and slicing a piece of the freshly baked pie and transferring it to her plate.

"You made this? When did you learn how to fucking bake honey?" She smiles before taking up a piece and putting it in her mouth while I made my way towards her and stand beside her watching her reaction to it. I think I stopped breathing for a minute as she squints her eyes and looks at me torturing me by making me wait for her verdict.

"Oh my god, this is the best pumpkin pie I've tasted. Better than those fine dining restaura—" I kiss her cutting her off. Her lips are sweet from the dessert she just ate and I nibble on the taste making her giggle. Safe to say it really tastes good.

"Thank you honey." She mumbles against my lips before giving me one last kiss. "So tell me when did you fucking learn how to bake." I laughed and shrug.

"Living alone in a huge house is making me miss you even more sweetheart so I just made time productive by doing stuff"

" Baking?"

"And cooking and gardening and cleaning the house. I almost did pottery but I don't have enough materials on hand that I can use." She giggles and takes another big bite of her food this time.

"You like it?" She hums and nods resting her head on my chest. Its still raining outside and I haven't even turn the outdoor lights on yet but then again its giving a cozy feeling to it maybe that's why Elizabeth is still a bit sleepy until now.

"I'll make you some coffee." I placed a kiss on top of her head as she pulls back and digs in to her food while I made my way to the espresso machine to make her some pumpkin spice latter perfect to go with the pumpkin pie.

"I'm sorry" I hear her say. "For slamming the glass on you earlier." I smile, I wasn't even thinking about that anymore but I'll take it. "I was just tired from work and the flight and—"

"That's okay sweetheart" I hear her sigh.

"No, it is not. Well, I got a little pissed with you asking about Dad's party tomorrow which is still a no for me by the way. I'm still mad at him for being an asshole the last time and honey, you don't really need that blessing you know. Whether he agrees or not, I'm still gonna marry you."

"Well how lovely to hear that." I smiled as I walk back over to her and placing down her coffee on a coaster. "But I just want to give him respect. He is still your father Elizabeth, he has to walk you down the aisle when the—"

"Trent's going to walk me down the aisle." She shrugs taking a sip of her coffee. I sighed, she really doesn't want her father getting involve but hey let's give the man a chance. Its just fair that way. "Mm this is too good, hell you're getting good at the kitchen baby."

"How's this?" She groans and rolls her eyes turning away from me but I touched her arm sliding down to her hand for her to turn to me again. "We have our own party for our engagement just some family and friends. Your family, my family then we invite him over and if he comes then I think that is a good sign but if he doesn't then the message is crystal clear and we can move on. What do you think?" She sighs in hesitation but looks at me in a thoughtful way. "Come on sweetheart"

"Fair enough." She shrugs. "But if he comes and just destroy my party then I would kick him out myself."

"Alright then."

"So can you stop bothering me with my father and just eat some of this pumpkin pie with me and have some coffee too then maybe we could watch some Game of Thrones later on. Its a bit cozy and the rain—" She giggles as I smothered her face with kisses stumbling a little with mu clumsiness, my head falling onto her shoulders.

"Okaaayy, Are you alright? your knee honey." She pulls back and held me by the shoulders but I was already laughing when she looked at me. Her face softens and I smiled looking into those eyes once again.

Green like the meadows.

She's here. Right now. Right in front of me after weeks of not being together and now she's definitely here in our own home. I love our work but sometimes time together is becoming a chance because of it and to tell you the truth, it really fucking sucks.

"Where are you?" I hear her whisper her voice trails with worry and concern while her cold hands slips on the back of my neck and I look at her once again.

"I'm in green fields looking into your eyes but I quite like it here with you." She giggles and kisses me. She tastes like pumpkin pie.

"Oh I love you." She mumbles against my lips my arm slipping around her waist.

"I love you" ————————"Baby I think you should go." I say in an anxious tone. Well I am anxious. I am thinking about it since I woke up this morning that if Elizabeth won't go to her Dad's birthday party then I would be looking as the bad guy and her Dad will hate me even more than he already has and I would never get the chance to have his blessing to the wedding or even just stay civil with each other. And now we're here in the kitchen preparing for lunch when I couldn't help but brought it up again. Its just driving me insane.

"Shan, I thought we talked about this already. I'm not gonna lie I'm really getting annoyed." She sighs turning her back on me.

"Sweetheart, you don't understand. If you don't go to—"

"I said I'm not going alright Shan can you just fucking drop it!" She says louder this time having to slice on the chopping board too hard now but she needs to go.

"If you don't go, he would think that I made you not go and he would just hate me even more—"

"Why does it even matter?" She groans. She just don't get it.

"Elizabeth he's your Dad"

"Exactly, he's my Dad and he's not acting like one either. I don't want to have this conversation with you right now—"

"Elizabeth—"

"I said not now" She says sternly and that shut me up. Suddenly, the air around us becomes more colder and thicker, the tension suffocating me. All I want is for things to go well with everyone before the wedding and that includes our relationship with her Dad. Yes he's an asshole but still he is the father of my bride to be and I have to respect that.

"I just thought you both can talk things through so everything goes well before the wedding." I whispered before leaving the room and going to our spot instead to have some air and clear my head. Its suffocating to be there right now. Elizabeth can be more stubborn as I am and stands by her own choice if she wants too and maybe this is one of those times she needs too. I understand where she's coming from because of the last time they've seen each other. It didn't go so well, not at all, but it doesn't mean she would have to cut ties even not let him walk her down the aisle just because the man hates me.

Ring!

I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of my phone ringing in my pocket. So I took it out and saw Mary Kate calling. I answered.

'Hello'

'We're here at mom's. Trent told me you two are not going to Dad's party.' I sighed, I knew they'd find out about it eventually. 'You know Dad's going to be pissed right, he's expecting you to be there.'

'Not me, but Elizabeth. I've been trying to talk to her through it and that maybe she should go without me. She won't listen and now we just had a fight about it.' She groans before her voice fades away and it seems like she was talking to someone so I wait looking at the city view in front of me.

'She needs to be there. I had Ashley on the phone with her right now. She listens to her more than she does to me.'

'I just thought that they could talk things through, one way or another your Dad will found out about the engagement and I know I have to ask for his blessing but I won't get to do that if Elizabeth won't go to his birthday just because of what happened the last time and it would put me out as the bad guy.'

'I understand' She sighs. 'She's more stubborn as you to be honest.'

'I agree.' I let out a soft chuckle just to lighten up the mood. 'I just want everything to be settled between me and your family before the wedding. That's all I want.'

'Hey, everything will be alright soo— What?' Her voice fades again. Maybe talking to someone again and it seems to be Ashley.

'Alright— She's going.' I don't know if that should make me relieve or scared of what she's going to say when I get inside. 'I told you she listens to Ashley more than anyone besides you. Anyway, you can come too you know.'

'I don't think that's a good idea. I better not go and besides Elizabeth won't let me. You can come by the house after for a sleep over though if you like.' I smile at the thought of that and hope that maybe they would agree with the idea.

'You're a fucking genius. I'll tell Court and Jake if they could come. We miss you.'

'I miss you too.' I smile. 'So martinis? or just movies?' She chuckles as my smile grows wider. I really miss the Olsen siblings. Its fun when they're around, a satisfying comfort.

'What about both?'

'Roger that, I'll set up later. Don't get too much drunk though.'

'If Robbie's there we might be getting there earlier than expected.' I laughed and she joins in.

'That's what Trent told me.'

'Exactly.' She giggles. 'Anyway, I have to go. We'll see you tonight okay?'

'Yea, I should probably give Elizabeth a bit of space until later on because we are not in good terms at all. Let the fire cool down a bit.'

'Yup you should do that, my sister is hella scary when she's in a mood.' Well, that is fucking true. She is kinda scary when she gets mad. Sometimes, I think she would blow my head off if she could like what she does in her movies.

'Alright bye then. I'll be expecting all of you here later on.'

'You got it, Bye!' The line goes dead and silence fills the air again, just busy city streets and the chirping of the birds fills up my ears. It calms me down, our spot, specifically here under the huge oak tree. Another thing the old Shannon got right. Sometimes I still wonder what if I didn't get into that car crash and had amnesia what would my life be right now. Maybe the crash was the only way for us to start over again. It was meant to happen like it was written on our fate already, just so we can happen again.

If that is so, I know its a bit brutal to say, but I'm grateful it did happen, because I get to be with her again, and even though she gets into my nerves sometimes, worries a lot, always gets her way by just flashing me a dimpled sweet smile and be stubborn as hell, I would still want her to be the one I wake up to every morning for the rest of my life.  But right now I would rather be not in her space for a while because she would definitely blow my head up even though she can't.